Red-and-White reserves see action a day after First Team wins in season opener

March 10, 2014

Alejandro Arpiza

cdchivasusa.com

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A day after Chivas USA took a thrilling 3-2 win over the Chicago Fire with a late game-winner in their season opener, the squad’s reserves – along with players who had minimal participation in Sunday’s Major League Soccer match – returned to host UCLA in a 90-minute scrimmage.

The Red-and-White reserves kicked off the match at the StubHub Center’s Field 6 at 10 a.m. and battled a Bruins squad that finished last season ranked third nationally. The sides looked to establish ball possession in their end of the offensive third, but it was the Bruins who were able to get on the scoresheet first in the ninth minute with a goal by forward Larry Ndjock.

The Rojiblancos looked to answer back the following minute when midfielder Daniel Fragoso sent a cross into the box from the right wing to striker Luke Moore, whose header was secured by Bruins goalkeeper Earl Edwards. UCLA continued to withstand the pressure and doubled their lead on midfielder Jordan Vale’s shot inside the box that beat Chivas netminder Trevor Spangenberg to his left.

Beginning in the 31st minute, the Goats ran off a string of shots at goal that just missed getting the Red-and-White on the board. Forward Matthew Fondy attempted to get involved as both scorer and playmaker, as he played a cross to Kris Tyrpak that was sent over the crossbar with a header. A minute later, the forward fired a curling shot from inside the right side of the box that traveled wide right. After bringing down a long ball, the second-year striker got off his second shot at goal, which this time was wide left of the post.

Heading into the second half in search of landing their first score, Chivas continued to generate dangerous looks on the end of crossed from both wings. In the 60th minute, Tyrpak looked to link up with Adolfo Bautista, but the first-year forward – who came on as a sub in Sunday’s match and played 25 minutes – pushed his header over the crossbar.

After repeated looks at goal, Chivas were able to break through and cut the lead to 2-1 in the 69th minute when Fondy got on the end of Chivas USA Academy defender Mario Ledesma’s cross for the tap-in from inside the six-yard box. Fondy followed up his tally with a strike on frame late in the contest that was kept out by Edwards’ diving save to preserve the 2-1 result for UCLA.

Players who started in Sunday’s Week 1 match reported to the SHC for a regeneration session and will have Tuesday off along with the reserves before returning on Wednesday to begin preparations for Sunday’s Week 2 meeting against Western Conference foe Vancouver Whitecaps FC. The match will mark the first leg in the three-game season series and kicks off at 4 p.m. and can be heard on ESPN Deportes Radio KWKW 1330 AM.